Pereda’s ABS challenges prove huge in Mariners’ tight win over Yankees

In a game where just one run total is scored, the smallest of margins can make the biggest of differences. And in the case of the Seattle Mariners’ 1-0 victory Thursday over the New York Yankees, a few great calls by catcher Jhonny Pereda made all the difference.

Pitching staff delivers Seattle Mariners’ first win in over a week

Pereda made three ABS challenges behind the plate on pitches that were initially called balls in the sixth and seventh innings combined. Every time he was right, and every time it gave Seattle a huge strikeout.

Four Mariners pitchers combined for a shutout of the Yankees on Thursday, but maybe Pereda should get credit as the fifth man.

“Those challenges were everything, and Jhonny was all over it,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said after the game. “Just a great job by him today. Turning those balls into strikes, or strikeouts in some cases – not only does it help your pitcher out, but it’s a huge momentum boost. I thought he just challenged very beautifully today, and it was a big part of the game.”

Logan Gilbert was the beneficiary of the first two successful challenges by Pereda, who was playing just his second game since being recalled by the Mariners from Triple-A Tacoma on Aug. 4.

The first was a 98 mph fastball that nicked the outside edge on a 2-2 count against Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham, who was leading off the sixth inning. The second came two batters later with a runner on first base, and it was another 98 mph heater that just found the outside corner on a 1-2 count against left fielder Spencer Jones.

Gilbert had his doubts about the second challenge by Pereda, but he probably won’t worry the next time Pereda calls for the ABS system in one of his starts.

“That was huge. That was a turning moment for me on the mound,” Gilbert said of Pereda’s challenges. “The first one I thought was there. The second one I thought no chance. I was telling Johnny when he challenged, I’m like, no, no, no, no, no. And then we won it, so I learned my lesson. Don’t doubt Jhonny out there.”

Pereda, who also went 1 for 3 at the plate Thursday, knows how precious the two ABS challenges each team receives per game are.

“You gotta be sure to challenge a pitch. And when I challenge, I was 100% sure, but (Gilbert) wasn’t,” Pereda said. “So he (was) laughing after they change the pitch.”

While Pereda changed more pitches to strikes when Gilbert was pitching, his biggest call of the day came in the seventh inning. With runners on the corners and Eduard Bazardo on the mound, Pereda challenged to overturn a 97 mph sinker that clipped the high outside corner on an 0-2 count against pinch-hitter Amed Rosario.

That got the Mariners out of a jam that could have extended their six-game losing streak. Instead, Pereda got them back in the dugout, and the Yankees didn’t even manage to get another runner on base over the final two innings of the game.

“Jhonny was great back there. Won three challenges today so that was huge,” Gilbert said.

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